Hofuf Travel Guide, Saudi Arabia

Al Hofuf: Overview of the City  

Al Hofuf, also known as Al Hufuf, has one of the largest oil fields in the world. Al Hofuf is lead producer of the dates because it is situated in the largest oasis in the world with large groves of palm trees counting more than 2 million. Well these two factors alone put this city on the map of the world.

This city has only two types of climate, hot and arid in summer, and cold in winters getting warmer when it rains.

For tourists the train and bus are the transportation facilities to arrive and depart from here.

Al Hofuf is situated in the Ash Sharqiyah province of eastern Saudi Arabia. The most potential historical feature of this town is the grave tombs of Laila and Majnu. This legendary lover duo of the Muslim world lived here creating ever singing tales of the passionate love.

This city was under Ottoman Empire and one can see its reminiscence in the town while strolling. Al Hofuf was also the capital of the eastern province till 1953. Besides this, Al Hofuf is a great cultural and educational centre sheltering the most prestigious families of the country. King Faisal University is an educational and learning center facilitating a separate section for women to study dentistry, medicine and economics related to home.

Industrial activities at Al Hofuf include manufacturing of copper and brass wares, cloth, swords, draggers and food processing. Being a leading date palm producer it has many villages surrounded by spectacular greenery and date palm orchards are managed by the ministry of agriculture. Being a large oasis, there are many water sources, so it grows date palms, wheat, rice, barley and fruits supporting agricultural business.

Al Hofuf has also some remarkable sightseeing like Ibrahim palace, Jabel Al Quara (a place of caves), Al Uqair and Abqaiq (oldest operational salt mine). Al Hofuf is also famous for the Souq Sieq, the traditional market place where one can find lots of gold jewelry, feminine gifts and textile shops.